Rental Textbooks - Frequently Asked Questions

What is a textbook rental?

Textbook rentals allow students to rent their textbooks from the bookstore (as opposed to buying them) for a specified term. It is one cost-effective option for students who do not anticipate keeping their books.

What does it cost to rent a textbook?

The fee for renting a textbook is calculated differently for each book and depends on several factors. Rental prices for each book will be clearly listed on the website along with the price of the New and Used book for easy comparison.

How do I rent a book?

You can rent a textbook either online or instore.

How to Rent Your Textbooks In Store

See if your book is being rented — look for a green rental tag next to your book.

You must have a credit card (with an expiry date beyond the end of the rental period), your student card and one other piece of picture ID.

Go to any cash register - the cashier will walk you through the process.

Sign the cash receipt which is the rental contract.

Your copy of the receipt shows the date the rental is due to be returned.

You should receive email messages later in the semester reminding you when the book is due to be returned but the date will be in the printable contract and on your receipt. Please be aware of this due date. If you do not receive any email reminder messages contact us at weborders@uoftbookstore.com as there may be a problem with the email address we have on file.

If it is available a rental option will be displayed. Select new or used for the titles you want, add them to your cart & follow the shopping cart procedures.

Read the terms and conditions posted in store or online.

Complete your online order/reservation.

You will receive a confirmation email stating we received your order and you will receive another email letting you know when your rental textbook is ready for pick-up.

Come in to pick up your book(s). The student forming the agreement must pick up the book. Please bring your valid credit card (with an expiry date beyond the end of the rental period), student ID and photo ID within two weeks from the pick up email date. The pickup location will be the bookstore you selected when completing your order.

You should receive email messages later in the semester reminding you when the book is due to be returned but the date will be in the printable contract and on your receipt. Please be aware of this due date. If you do not receive any email reminder messages contact us at weborders@uoftbookstore.com as there may be a problem with the email address we have on file.

How do I know if any of my classes offer textbook rentals?

When you search for your books online, if the book is eligible for rental, you will see the option from your list of options. In-store, look for the green rental price tag next to your book on the shelf or ask at the Text Info desk.

How do I pay for a textbook rental?

You can pay by credit card, or with cash or debit provided you have a credit card (with an expiry date beyond the end of the rental period) that can be kept on file to secure the rental.

In order to rent a textbook, you must enter into a legally binding contract. This can only be done by those 18 years old or older. We are happy to rent a textbook to a parent for your use. Please remember - they will be held responsible for what happens to the textbook.

How long is the rental period?

The Rental Period starts when you checkout, in store, with the rental book(s).

The Rental Return Date will be listed on your receipt.

Rental books must be returned according to the Rental Return date that applies to the course for which you rented the book. Books not returned by the specified Rental Return date will be considered late and subject to fees outlined above.

Can I make notes in the margins or use a highlighter?

Normal use of the book, including normal highlighting and writing, is permitted. When you pick up your rental book at the bookstore you will be asked to review the condition of the book with the clerk and sign to accept the current condition. The book, even when rented, is the property of the University of Toronto Bookstore and must be returned in University of Toronto Bookstore Standard condition.

Can the bookstore refuse to accept my textbook rental when I return it?

Yes, the bookstore can refuse to accept your rental book if it is not returned in University of Toronto Bookstore Standard condition. University of Toronto Bookstore Standard condition will be judged by the bookstore alone, and generally means book spine intact, no excessive damage to cover or contents, all original pages intact, all original components present, and no excessive highlighting, writing or other markings. Normal use highlighting and writing is permitted.

University of Toronto Bookstore Standard condition also requires that Rental Materials must be returned with at least one barcode sticker intact (one on back cover, one inside back cover)

If the bookstore determines your book to be not acceptable for return, then you will be charged for a replacement copy and a processing fee.

How do I keep my books in good condition?

Read your books with clean hands

Don't eat or drink around your books

Use bookmarks, do not lie books face down or use dog ears

After renting a textbook, can I return it for a refund if I drop my class?

Textbooks must be in the same condition as when they were purchased. New books must be in mint condition - no bent corners or creases, spine unbroken with no markings at all

No refunds will be permitted for shrink wrapped items that have been opened

Original cash receipt must be presented (no exceptions)Returns must be made no later than 14 calendar days from the original purchase except that Textbook rental returns will not be allowed during these periods:

October 15th to December 22nd

March 1st to May 7th

June 15th to 30th

July 15th to August 20th

Can I return my books by mail?

No, you must return the rental books in person to the same location where you picked them up.

What if I return the book early?

If you wish, for whatever reason, to return your rental early, there is no refund, partial or whole, if returned later than 14 days from the original purchase.

What happens if I do not return the book by the due date?

You will be charged for replacement of the textbook plus a processing fee. The replacement cost and processing fee will be charged to the credit card on file. These fees are in addition to the rental fee.

What happens if I lose a rented textbook?

You will be charged for a replacement along with the processing fee for any book not returned to the bookstore, regardless of the reason. These fees are in addition to the rental fee.

How much are the non-return fees?

We need to cover the cost of replacing the book so it can be rented or re-used so we will charge you a replacement fee based on the value of the book at the time it was rented plus a processing fee of $10.00 per book. These fees are in addition to the rental fee.

Can I purchase the book I rented?

Yes. If you decide you want to keep your rented textbook, simply come back to the store with your receipt any time prior to the return due date, pay the difference between the rental price and the purchase price and keep a copy of your receipt as proof of payment.

What if I forget when the rental is due?

As a courtesy, we will send a reminder notice to the email address you provided when you placed your online order and on your rental agreement. However, it is your responsibility to return the book by the due date even if you do not receive this email.

What if I return the book just a few days late?

When we set the return date, we are setting it as late as possible to give you as much time as we can. We have to consolidate the books and send them to a 3rd party company as part of the process and have deadlines to adhere to, otherwise we incur penalties. In order to offer the program we need to ensure the deadlines are followed and unfortunately a book returned even a day late will have Non-return fees applied to it.

What can I do with the book once I've paid the non-Return fees?

Once we have charged you the non-Return fees, the book is yours to keep.